Friday, December 15, 2006

Inspecting your new South Florida condo before making an offer

There are many things to consider when buying a South Florida home but even more when deciding on a condo.

South Florida condos offer numerous amenities and there are many to choose from.

Here are important things to look out for before making an offer:

Does the condo face many hours of sun that will interfere with your energy efficiency and skyrocket your FPL bill?

Listen for noises. One way to check noise levels is visiting the condo at different times of the day both weekdays and weekends.

Check out your privacy levels; do you have large windows or a balcony that faces the street. Can you see into the unit from outside?

Is the parking lot well lit? Are there plenty of parking spaces? This has become a major issue at many complexes, it may not seem important now, but it certainly will when you’re home from work after a long day.

Another important thing to look for in hurricane prone Florida is a backup generator to power up your building in the case of a power outage.

Tamarac Wants to Save the World

Tamarac, the western Broward city which began as a retirement community and was named for a car wash, is taking a global view of the world, looking beyond their cozy piece of South Florida real estate to help solve problems that concern people all over the globe.

Tamarac officials are looking at the problems of the world and seeing what they can do to help, taking that whole “think globally, act locally” credo to a whole new level.

Upon reports of the obesity crisis in America, Tamarac’s city commission urged restaurants to cut trans fat from their offerings. The city commission even stopped serving donuts at meetings.

They’re also doing what they can to tackle conservation, urging restaurants to serve water only when diners ask. That not only means less water left on tables untouched after meals, but also less water wasted to wash those glasses. The commission is looking into other ways to recycle water, including irrigation for city medians, and using recycled water.

Commissioner Patte Atkins-Grad would also like Tamarac to take on global warming and help save the penguins. There’s no plan in place yet, but unlike most American cities, Tamarac is working on it.

Tamarac was founded in the early 1960s by midwestern businessman Ken Behring, who envisioned a model retirement community. He named the city after his successful carwash franchise, Car-a-Mat. Car-a-Mat backwards is Tamarac.

While homes in Tamarac were originally designed for retirees, much of Tamarac’s population now includes families. And while the median age of a Tamarac resident is 52, younger residents are becoming more prominent; the city’s median age gets younger with each census.

Thursday, December 14, 2006

Teachers May Get Help buying Homes in Palm Beach County

Teachers who work in schools with a large number of low-income students may soon get help in buying homes in Palm Beach County neighborhoods, close to the school where they work.

The School Board will vote today on a public-private partnership that will connect the district with MerryPlace LLC as well as the West Palm Beach Housing Authority. If MerryPlace is approved, teachers at low-income schools may be eligible to receive a $7,500 down payment assistance to buy a home in new communities near Pleasant City Elementary, U.B. Kinsey/Palmview Elementary, Roosevelt Elementary, Northboro Elementary and Roosevelt Middle School.

Land preparation is already underway on the Pleasant City development, which is slated to include 16 single-family homes, 52 condos and 46 townhomes. Prices will be determined at a later date, but will take into account the median income of Palm Beach County, which is currently $64,000 for a family of four. The communities are scheduled to open in March, 2008, and pre-construction sales could begin within a few months.

The MerryPlace communities should be a fresh take on West Palm Beach real estate. Street names include Comfort Place, Beautiful Avenue, Contentment Avenue and Cheerful Street.

Fort Lauderdale Real Estate- How its Past Helps Shape its Future

By Alexandra Tarallo

The archaeological excavation of the second Stanahan Store has turned into an extremely popular exhibit that will run through February 11, 2007

The exhibit “Digging up the past” will showcase an array of artifacts uncovered during the site’s 1996-97 dig. The Stranahan Store is a Fort Lauderdale real estate treasure and a contributing factor to the knowledge our historians have obtained about South Florida’s past.

Frank Stranahan arrived in 1892 to take charge of the overnight camp and ferry crossing established at the New River by the Dade County government. He soon turned it into a succesfull trading post with the local Seminoles and a few years later, the Stranahan Trading Post was a South Florida landmark.

The second Stranahan Trading Post was built in the year 1906 by Ed King. In 1912, it was destroyed by a fire and the Oliver Building soon replaced it.

The center of action of that newly born community became the new city of Fort Lauderdale’s umbilical cord, feeding it with its rich history and molding it into a city that proudly preserves its architecture but has also taken a challenging leap into the new millennium with many state-of-the-art commercial and residential buildings.

Wednesday, December 13, 2006

Briny Breezes Proposal May Change the Face of Palm Beach County Real Estate

A piece of South Florida real estate that was one of the last glimpses into the coastal lifestyle of a bygone era may soon be leveled to make way for high-end retail and commercial space, townhomes and condos in Boynton Beach.

Briny Breezes, the 43-acre oceanfront mobile home park in Boynton Beach, has a deal on the table from Boca Raton developer Ocean Land that will make some of the trailer residents millionaires. Ocean Land has proposed paying $510 million for the land and the trailers. If the residents accept the deal, the mostly retired homeowners who live in Briny Breezes would receive $750,000 to $1 million.

Briny Breezes is a municipality located between the intracoastal and the ocean. The homeowners are shareholders in the corporation that owns Briny Breezes. Homeowners shares are based on the size and location of their property. Residents have until January 10 to decide whether or not to accept Ocean Land’s offer. A consensus of 67 percent is needed to sell.

While many residents are thrilled with the offer, others are skeptical. Consider this: Briny Breezes predominantly consists of retired full-time and seasonal residents who probably bought their trailer in the first place because it was an affordable way to live on the beach in Florida, enjoy the sunrise over the ocean from their own homes, and to live in paradise without paying a high price. The windfall might sound great, but let’s face it: $750,000 just doesn’t go as far as it used to, especially if they want to stay in the area and maintain the quality of life and the perks they’ve enjoyed living in Briny Breezes.

In use as a trailer park since the 1930s, the Briny Breezes land was bought by residents in 1958. Many of the current residents are second and third generation, or visited the park as children. Besides being one of the most iconoclastic communities that make up the South Florida real estate scene, the trailer park was the location for the 2005 movie “In Her Shoes”, which starred Cameron Diaz and Toni Collette.

The South Florida Real Estate Christmas Spirit

For many, it’s the “most wonderful time of the year.” South Florida homes and condos lovingly decorated with festive lights and Christmas themes, some homeowners go as far as creating a winter wonderland complete with completely lit gardens and backyard such as South Florida Billionaire Jim Moran’s oceanfront Hillsboro Beach home.

Many of his neighbors along the exclusive stretch join him in the spectacular décor of their homes making it a delightful drive that many (like me) look forward to throughout the year.

Other communities worth touring this holiday season include Pembroke Lakes in Pembroke Pines; Wilton Manors in Fort Lauderdale; and Boca Cove homes in Highland Beach.

Tuesday, December 12, 2006

Getting Ready to Move into your New South Florida Home

If your one of the many soon to be Florida residents with an empty nest, you’re probably thinking of how to downsize and simplify your life before moving into your new South Florida home. Though moving into a smaller space will require perhaps a change in lifestyle, it doesn’t have to be that difficult.

Some steps to consider are the following:

Measure the dimensions of your new living space and measure your current furniture to see if and what will fit.

Determine what will be coming along. This is a great opportunity to de-clutter and simplify your life.

Toss unused things and perhaps plan a garage sale to get rid of extra stuff that you may not have room for.

Miami-Dade Tackles Workforce Housing Issue

Hot on the heels of the news that a new company had been formed to build work-force housing in Miami and Little Havana, a proposed law requiring developers to provide lower cost housing has come under fire by those owning homes in Miami-Dade County and community councils who fear that if the law passes, it will have a negative effect on property values.

The proposed law would require developers of most new projects built in Miami-Dade’s unincorporated areas to earmark a certain percentage of units below market price so lower income buyers could afford them.

The proposal would also include a workforce board, made up of three community council members, as well as developers, banking professionals and affordable housing advocates appointed by the county commission.

Miami-Dade community council members are concerned that the workforce board would take zoning issues out of local hands, while homeowners fear that unchecked development that might result from the law would impact negatively on their Miami-Dade real estate.

The Workforce Housing Ordinance hearing takes place this morning at the Stephen P. Clark Center in downtown Miami.

Monday, December 11, 2006

Annual Fort Lauderdale Attraction Presents “Broadway on the Waterway”

When it comes to the South Florida winters, no one’s sitting by the fireplace and rattling their teeth with a blanket over their shoulders. Quite the contrary, they’re one of the best times to relax outside and enjoy the weather. And so it makes sense that the fresh climate will encourage residents to participate in a number of outdoor activities.

One Fort Lauderdale attraction to mark on your calendar is the 35th Annual Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade. Dubbed as “Broadway on the Waterway,” the event will feature at least 100 vessels that will sail along the Intracoastal Waterway from Port Everglades to Lake Santa Barbara in Pompano Beach. The ships take off on Dec. 16th at 6:30 p.m.

The parade will have a Broadway theme with many decorations that reference such musical classics as “Jesus Christ Superstar,” “Cats” and “Grease.” Crew members will get a mix of live music and visual arts. Frank Valli, the singer for the Four Seasons, will be the parade’s grand marshal.

Residents with their own vessels can participate in the parade with a fee of $35. Tickets for adults is $18 and for children $13. The Port Everglades is close to many homes in Fort Lauderdale so the drive to the parade shouldn’t be a problem for residents.

Work-force Housing is Hot New South Florida Real Estate Niche

Developers are responding to the lull in the sale of luxury housing by specializing in a segment long ignored: housing designed for South Florida’s workforce.

A firm based in Georgia has teamed with a Coral Gables developer to form Urbanice LLC, a company which will build work-force housing in Little Havana. The name of the new company comes from the Spanish word for urbanize.

Four projects are already in the works, and will be the new players on the South Florida real estate scene. The complexes, El Colonial, Puerto Nuevo, Aqua Briza and Los Jardines, will add nearly 300 units to the market for real estate in Miami and Little Havana and. The buildings will have varied amenities, including rooftop entertainment deck, spa, and meditation garden.

Preconstruction prices for the projects range from the high $100,000’s to the low $300,000s. Government employees and hospital employees will be eligible for discounts on units.

Florida Homeowners Fighting New Insurance Increases

It’s no secret that South Florida homes have become increasingly expensive to insurance since 2005’s busy hurricane season.

Homeowners have decided to act and are circulating a petition that has made rounds throughout homes from the Florida Keys to the Panhandle.

Among other things the petition seeks lower rates, tougher building codes statewide, and a strong lobbying effort for a national catastrophe fund, according the Miami Herald.

Citizens; the largest insurer in the State holds 1.3 million policies, half of those are in the South Florida area. With the new state law that requires insurance companies to increase its reserves so it has enough money available to cover claims from a large storm, means increases starting as early as March.

The group Insurance Reform Now organized by mortgage banker Sherri Hudson is drafting a list of possible solutions such as eliminating the provision in that new state law that calls for large premium increases in Citizens’ rates; creating preventive measures that would not allow for long-term policy holders to have their policies cancelled; the creation of a national or regional catastrophe fund, and the creation of formal regulations that call for gradual rate increases.

Friday, December 08, 2006

Buyers Can Decorate Their Own Miami Beach Condos

You just can’t lose when choosing to buy a condo in Miami Beach. The buildings offer gorgeous views of the east coast, the beaches are within walking distance, popular shops and restaurants abound on nearly every corner and the prices are affordable at such impressive locations.

And now some developers have allowed buyers to get creative. Oview at Collins is a new community in the works that encourages buyers to partake in the design of the interiors in their units. Each of the residents in the 8-story building can have entirely unique apartments; they may even forget that they’re living in the same community. Buyers can have their units to be as small as 709 square feet to up to 3,500 square feet. Many owners can even choose to have their own private rooftops.

The new real estate in Miami Beach is expected to be completed sometime in 2008. Each of the 20 condominiums will be stories with floor to ceiling windows, Italian cabinetry and views of the beaches and the Intracoastal Waterway. The amenities include a swimming pool, a Jacuzzi and a sky deck on the top of the roof.

Oview at Collins will be situated near other soon-to-be communities such as the Ritz-Carlton and Ciprianin at the Saxony. Pre-construction prices start at $535,000.

Riviera Beach Replaces Housing Project with Townhome Community

Out with the old and in with the new—a nearly 30-year-old housing development is being demolished, clearing the way for the construction of nearly 200 new townhomes and condos in Riviera Beach.

Ivey Green has stood near Congress Avenue and Blue Heron Boulevard for decades. The complex, which once offered hope and a home to families with lower incomes had suffered from neglect, and has been plagued by crime. Ivey Green was also damaged by Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne.

A community of Riviera Beach homes will rise in its place. The townhomes will be geared toward renters and senior citizens, as well as lower income home buyers.

Officials say it will take about six months for Ivey Green to be completely demolished. Officials also plan to hold a contest for local elementary and middle school children to rename this new community of South Florida homes.

Florida Among States With Highest Flu Rates

If you thought sunny Florida didn’t have its share of winter blues you were wrong. Florida is currently one of the states with the highest flu rates in the nation.

To make sure your family and South Florida home stay flu-free this season, there are a few steps you can take.

Children are especially vulnerable and one of the best options to protect them from the virus and the serious complications that it may bring is a flu shot. Shots are recommended mostly for children between the ages of 6 months and 5 years.

The Sun Sentinel has reported that both Broward and Palm Beach counties still have the vaccine available. Many Doctors offices carry the vaccine as well.

The vaccine will be available in special clinics set up at different Publix locations in Broward County, and scheduling is pending at local malls as well according to Tory Omran the account manager at Maxim Healthcare, Fort Lauderdale. The company provides flu shots at retail locations.

Keeping your home as germ free as possible can be achieved by consistently wiping down door knobs, washing your hands, and changing bedding and towels weekly.

Thursday, December 07, 2006

Tequesta Real Estate Features New Village Hall

Residents in Tequesta won’t have to attend council meetings at the Tequesta Recreation Center anymore. Officials will open a new village hall this Saturday, Dec. 9th. Residents are already paying their utility bills and conduct other transactions at the new building.

The 9,500-square-feet building cost $2.5 million to construct. The village hall is a state-of-the-art unit that features flat screens for presentations and seating for 100 people. But there’s still work to be done. Developers are fabricating a dais made out of cherry wood and a black granite counter for council meetings. They are expected to finish by Dec. 14.

The new village hall is conveniently located near many homes in Tequesta.

The future of South Florida Real Estate to Undergo Strict Planning

The South Florida real estate boom has left many asking what’s left to build upon. Furthermore, the projected doubling of Southeast Florida’s population by 2060 would send new developments as far as the Everglades Agricultural Area in western Palm Beach County. This is expected to cause small towns along Lake Okeechobee such as Pahokee and Belle Glade to experience an explosive and problematic population boom.

Growth planning advocates emphasize that building apartments, condominiums and other large residential buildings in South Florida should be built in close proximity to public transit, specially in counties such as Dade and Broward where overcrowding may cause major traffic issues among other problems.

In some cities development is expected to take over agricultural land such as the case of western Palm Beach County. The incredible expansion would create a non-stopping urban strip stretching from West Palm Beach to Fort Myers.

Beyond Art Basel

There’s plenty of hype surrounding Miami Beach’s Art Basel, considered by many to be one of the nation’s best art events. Yet beyond Art Basel proper are many independent exhibits scattered throughout Miami real estate.

Some satellite fairs include Aqua Art Miami at the Aqua Hotel along Collins Avenue. This exhibit will feature emerging artists and many west coast galleries.

Bridge Miami will be held at the Catalina Hotel and Beach Club.

Design Miami at the Moore Building will house historic and contemporary works.
Its 2006 Designer of the year award has gone to artist Marc Newson.

Use Holiday Decorating to Showcase Your South Florida Home

By Mary Damiano

If you’ve got a house for sale in South Florida, it’s more important than ever to find a way to make your home stand out from others on the market. The holiday season provides a perfect time of year to spruce up your home and make it more attractive to home buyers.

Look at the outside of your home. Think curb appeal. Try outlining your house in white lights. Add a welcoming wreath or attractive door decoration. Highlight the trees or hedges in your yard with lights and tasteful decorations.

Now that you’ve made the outside look inviting, work on the inside. Red velvet bows or red plaid ribbon are inexpensive and instantly make a house feel special. Drape door frames with green holly garland and red bows. Have a lot of white throughout your home? Nothing highlights white more than gold, which will add an elegant vibe to your South Florida home.

Use your Christmas tree to your advantage. Avoid precious, heirloom ornaments—you don’t want accidents as people view your home. Try something different. A tree decked out in white lights and red bows is stunning.

And don’t forget about the scents of holidays. The scents of the season are pine and cinnamon, so use candles or air fresheners to make sure those scents are throughout the house.

By following these simple tips, you can make your South Florida home festive and memorable to those whose holiday wish list includes a new home.

Wednesday, December 06, 2006

Fort Lauderdale Real Estate to Feature Commercial Buildings near I-95

Developers are tearing down a series of old stores to make way for a new commercial center called Riverbend Corporate Park near Broward Boulevard and I-95.

Charlie Ladd and George Rahael, the men in charge of the project, are planning to include six office buildings that will extend up to 325,000 square feet. They are also thinking about setting up a hotel, shops and homes. Construction is expected to take over 10 years to complete at a cost of nearly $1 billion. Riverbend is also predicated to produce almost 8,000 jobs and $20 million in taxes.

The developers are now looking for businesses in such cities as Boca Raton and Cypress Creek to occupy the new office spaces. This real estate in Fort Lauderdale will be near I-95, I-595, a Tri-Rail station and the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. Ladd and Rahael hope that its proximity to the highways and the Tri-Rail will attract many residents who wish to easily commute from their homes in South Florida.

If the Horse Shows Leaves, Will Wellington’s Charm Go With It?

Wellington’s reputation as an equestrian town could ride off into the sunset if the company that operates a prestigious horse show and equestrian fest takes its business elsewhere.

Stadium Jumping Inc., which produces the National Horse Show and the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington each year, has threatened to leave the area. The company is being sued by developer Mark Bellissimo, who says that even though Stadium Jumping Inc. has a lease that expires in 2008, the company signed an agreement in 2005 that would keep the horse shows in Wellington for another 30 years.

Developers, officials and residents fear that if Stadium Jumping Inc. leaves, property values on Wellington homes, some of the most prime South Florida real estate, will plunge. Wellington has cultivated an atmosphere of equestrian tranquility, a haven for horse lovers amid the urban hustle and bustle and suburban sprawl of the rest of South Florida.

Bellissimo is planning to build the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center, a 400-plus acre complex which would include estate homes, retail shops and more than 100 hotel rooms. The lawsuit alleges Stadium Jumping Inc.’s decision to move out of Wellington has “seriously jeopardized” Bellisimo’s project.

Tuesday, December 05, 2006

Sunrise City Hall Opens; Hurricane Damage Repaired

The newly renovated Sunrise City Hall has reopened, after closing last year due to extensive damage from Hurricane Wilma. City Hall is located on a piece of South Florida real estate amid communities of homes for sale in Sunrise.

While the building was undergoing renovations, offices for city services, such as building permits, were spread all over town. Now, many different departments, including the Planning and Development Department, City Commission offices and chambers, the city clerk and an office for paying utility bills, will be available to residents.

Monday, December 04, 2006

Wellington School Receives Pre-Vet Magnet Program

Students in Wellington High School can now take classes in a pre-veterinary magnet program, the only one in the district.

The pre-vet program offers eight honor classes such as biology, zoology, chemistry, anatomy and physiology.

For years now, the “A” rated school in Wellington has been ranked as one of the top 25 high schools in the nation. But students there haven’t been able to take magnet and choice programs. It was one of the two schools in the county that lacked advanced programs.

The school will also begin renovations in the science rooms and the learning center to commentate the advanced classes with new state-of-the-art equipment. The cost of renovations adds up to $3.2 million.

Wellington High School is an ideal choose for the pre-vet medical program. Not only is known to have students and teachers interested in science, the real estate in Wellington is the heart of South Florida’s equestrian industry.

Give Us a Drugstore and We’ll Give You a Park

By Mary Damiano

Retail giant Walgreens has proposed a deal to Logger’s Run, a subdivision of homes in Boca Raton: If Logger’s Run allows Walgreens to build a new pharmacy on an undeveloped plot of South Florida real estate, Walgreens will build an 8 acre park for the residents of the area.

Walgreens would lease the property for 75 years. The rent would start at $250,000 a year and build to $350,000 a year. The rent money would help Logger’s Run maintain other parks in the area.

The decision as to whether the deal will go through is in the hands of the residents of the community. Two-thirds of the residents must support the measure to lease their free space to Walgreens.

The Logger’s Run subdivision encompasses more than a dozen different communities of Palm Beach County homes in Boca Raton, including Timberwalk, Country Landings, Winding Lakes, and Island Lakes. Residences in these communities are typically single-family homes with attached garages and substantial square footage. Many have swimming pools and a host of community amenities.

If the deal goes through, Walgreens will build their store at the corner of 441 and Palmetto Park Road. The drugstore would be hidden from the community by trees and landscaping. Another pharmacy giant, CVS, competed with Walgreens to build on the land, but Walgreens offered more money and offered to help build the new park.

Saturday, December 02, 2006

Jupiter Real Estate to include 19-acre Nature Trail Next Year

Officials in Jupiter are planning to develop a nature trail next year in the heart of the town.

The land will stretch 19 acres and feature a meandering boardwalk for visitors that will lead them through an area filled with cypress trees, pine flatwoods, palmettos, an oak in a hammock and a slough of freshwater that flows into Jones Creek. Developers have already removed many exotic plants from the site.

But this preservation won’t just be for visitors looking for a nice hike through a nature path. The town also hopes to attract students at the Environmental Academy for educational tours. The Jupiter school is located within walking distance from the preservation.

The town is spending $400,000 for the development of the nature trail. After its completion, the real estate in Jupiter will be managed by the Park and Recreation Department.

Friday, December 01, 2006

Plantation Mourns the Loss of its Longest Serving Mayor

By Alexandra Tarallo

Frank Veltri, the longest serving mayor of Plantation who led the city throughout 24 years of expansion and progress, died late Thursday at the age of 94.

The Tennessee native served as mayor of Plantation from 1975 until March of 1999 when he retired after more that two decades of service.

Plantation has a strong-mayor form of government. Unlike a commissioner-manager government where a city manager is hired by the commission, in this form of government the elected mayor is responsible for the day-to-day administration in City Hall. Plantation is one of the few cities in Florida to implement this type of government.

Veltri had lived in Plantation since 1955. Veltri’s late wife “Gin” was also a pillar of the community. She was co-founder of the city’s historic museum, the Plantation library, and the Women’s Club, among other endeavors.

During Veltri’s government, the once small agricultural town flourished into a full service community with many new commercial and cultural venues such as the Broward Mall, the Plantation Historical Museum, and the Fountains Shopping Mall.

Today the city continues to thrive. Plantation real estate offers condos, town homes, and single family homes surrounded by tropical landscaping, golf courses, as well as many malls, shops, and restaurants.

Mr. Veltri is survived by his three children; Diane Veltri Bendekovic, Stephen Veltri, and Deanne Ventri Noles; six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

The Ventri name still rings to this day within the city halls. His daughter Diane has served on the council since 2001.

Boynton Beach Real Estate to Feature Free Clinic by FAU and Quantum

Florida Atlantic University and Quantum Foundation are preparing to open a free clinic next year at Forest Park Elementary School in Boynton Beach.

The FAU Community Wellness Center at Forest Park will cover 2,300 square feet and will offer immunizations, screening for diabetes and high blood pressure and treatment for common ailments such as colds and ear infections.

Open to the public, the clinic is Palm Beach County’s second single clinic operated by Quantum and the Boca Raton college. The first center is next to West Gate Elementary School in West Palm Beach. The Boynton center will be twice the size of the first one.

The building will cost $280,000 and is expected to begin construction as early as January 2007. The board of Quantum plans to open the clinic by September.

The city also plans to rebuild the Boynton Beach school next year, although the clinic will not interfere with the school’s construction’s plans.

Delray Beach Real Estate Embraces the Holiday Spirit

By Alexandra Tarallo

As of last night, a new light shines upon Delray Beach homes and condos as the city cheerfully dove into the festive Holiday season with the 14th Annual tree lighting ceremony along Atlantic Avenue in the downtown area.

The event has become an annual tradition in which Delray Beach real estate owners renew their community bonds and celebrate the arrival of a new holiday season.

The 100 foot tree is considered one of the largest in the nation and features 15,500 twinkling lights and decorations.

The inside of the tree offers cheerful holiday scenes and an electric train exhibit.

The festivities also feature live entertainment as is the norm in the lively city of Delray Beach. Musical performances are followed by an awe inspiring light show, ice skating, carousel ride, and the most awaited event of the evening; Santa’s arrival. Without the honorable host, Delray’s magical tree lighting ceremony would hardly make any sense.

The renowned tree will continue to illuminate the city through January 1st.

Buying a South Florida Home May Be the Best Holiday Gift

By Mary Damiano

Mortgage rates nationwide dropped this week to their lowest point since January, according to mortgage giant Freddie Mac, indicating that buying South Florida homes might just be the best holiday gift, giving the term “home for the holidays” new meaning.

This was the third straight week of declines. Rates on 30-year mortgages peaked in July but have been declining in the months since.

The current rate on a 30-year, fixed rate mortgage averages 6.14 percent. That’s very close to the lowest level this year, which stood at 6.12 percent during the week of January 26. Experts at Freddie Mac have reported the rate of mortgage applications in November to be “healthy.”

The low mortgage rates, combined with motivated sellers, means that this is a good time to purchase homes in South Florida.

Many buyers have already taken advantage of low mortgage rates. Sales of existing homes in Broward County showed a 5 percent increase in October over sales for October of 2005.